Navigating the Family Rubik’s Cube

Pastor Zach preached a sermon on broken families. It was powerful. It struck me that families don’t get more simple as we get older. I think when I was a young man, I expected to have everything figured out by now and things would be clearer than they were when I was in my twenties. But a family is a bit like a Rubik’s Cube. It starts out with just one dimension – a spouse with some kids. Then another dimension is added with in-laws or out-laws. Then another with the introduction of grandchildren and different parenting approaches, etc. It’s immensely complicated and the probability of a strained or broken relationship with someone rises to about 100%. What are we to do? To paraphrase Hamlet, “To do or what not to do, that is the question.”

To do: Come to a Grandparent Huddle, if for no other reason than to remind yourself that you are still in the normal range.

Not to do: Feel pressure to act like nothing is wrong because you think you are the only one.

To do: Listen to the sermon mentioned above. Get rid of any rocks you’ve been carrying. Link to sermon.

Another to do: Remind yourself that God is always at work whether you see it now or not.

My coach used to say, “Trust the process.” Keep loving, keep forgiving, keep looking for opportunities for healing.

Grandparenting together.
 
Pastor Joe
“Getting old isn’t for sissies.” - Roland Coffey